CENTRE FOR

EMOTIONAL HEALTH

How can I help

students who are
depressed or withdrawn?
During COVID-19, students are experiencing a roller-coaster of emotions and are particularly vulnerable
to developing depression and becoming withdrawn at this time. As a result, teachers and educators are not
only having to deal with delivering classes online but are also likely to be dealing with students in distress.
Signs of depression can show up in the classroom in different ways. Teachers and educators may see
a student looking down, zoned out or withdrawn and not talking; appearing tired and unfocused;
forgetting things; being irritable; or acting out.

FMHHS2191
CRICOS Provider 00002J
HERE ARE SOME TIPS FOR EDUCATORS AND SCHOOLS TO DEAL WITH THESE SITUATIONS:
EDUCATORS
• Focus on the whole person (not just their academic
performance). Students struggling with depression need to be
treated with kindness and compassion. The focus should be on
what we, as educators, can do to improve their world and to take
a step back from the schoolwork. In that way, try to avoid any
threatening language and ultimatums about missed assignments.
• Talk to the student. It is harder to do this during online learning,
but consider emailing, calling or sending a private message via the
learning platform. Seek to understand them better – for instance,
ask them how they are doing and what is going on. Use validating
words such as “I understand” and “That sounds difficult”, and
acknowledge that this is a tough time.
• Provide the student with a sense of hope. Depression robs a
person of hope for the future. Express to the student that together
you will be able to find a way forward. Discuss the fact that the
pandemic is temporary and that there will be an end point to this.
Part of this is to provide additional encouragement and praise,
even for minor achievements.
• Provide additional guidance: Students with depression are
often unable to think clearly, and they struggle with planning.
Help with scaffolding tasks – breaking larger tasks into smaller,
manageable steps. Students who are depressed often struggle
to remember things and concentrate for long periods of time.
Therefore, it may be helpful to allow the student to record online
and virtual lessons to listen to later.
• Adjust your expectations for the student’s performance.
Repeated warnings and pressure to get assignments done without
considering the student’s personal circumstances may have a
negative impact on their mental health. Be flexible with due
dates and extensions. Consider if exam provisions or illness/
misadventure provisions are warranted.
LINKS TO KEY SUPPORT SERVICES
CENTRE FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH CLINIC
Macquarie University
T: (02) 9850 8668
E: ehc.admin@mq.edu.au
mq.edu.au/CEH-clinic
IN CASE OF A CRISIS, CONTACT
• ACT: 1800 629 354 – Mental Health Triage Service
• NSW: 1800 011 511 – Mental Health Line
• NT: 1800 682 288 – Northern Territory Mental Health Line
• QLD: 1300 MH CALL or 1300 642 255 – 24-hour specialist
mental healthcare
• SA: 13 14 65 – Mental Health Triage Service
• TAS: 1800 332 388 – Mental Health Service Helpline
• VIC: Victoria’s Mental Health Services – See website for
services in your area
• WA: 1800 676 822 – Mental Health Emergency Response Line
LIFELINE
T: 13 11 14
KIDS HELPLINE
T: 1800 55 1800
kidshelpline.com.au
MACQUARIE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
mq.edu.au/faculty-of-arts/departments-and-schools/
macquarie-school-of-education
SCHOOLS
• Normalise the struggle with students, and provide as much
encouragement as possible. At the beginning of sessions,
normalise with your students that this is a tough time. It’s not
realistic to expect that students will be able to perform at the same
level that they normally would at school. Acknowledge that it’s
tough to get work done in an online environment.
• Provide general health and wellbeing sessions. Create a
caring and compassionate school culture by encouraging staff,
students and parents to talk about mental health. Educating young
people about health-related topics, such as sleep and physical
exercise, may be helpful at this time. Encouraging students to
access virtual physical activities may also be helpful at this time.
Consider rolling out anxiety and depression prevention programs.
• Educate students about social connection in the virtual
world. To prevent withdrawal and the onset of depression,
encourage students to talk and connect with one another (ie
their peers). Discuss ways your students can keep in touch with
each other, which may involve virtual teaching and conferencing
software, and how they can remain safe when interacting online.
• Include daily wellbeing strategies. Use daily in-class relaxation
exercises to encourage young people to calm their minds, focus
on the here and now, and identify thoughts as thoughts and not
reality – a helpful strategy.
• Enlist help. Teachers/educators shouldn’t cope with students
with depression by themselves. If you are concerned for a student,
speak to the school psychologist/counsellor about what additional
help is available. School counsellors are often tasked with triaging
students into external mental health services. Reach out to
parents, if needed.
HEAD TO HEALTH (AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT)
headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support
BEYOND BLUE
Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service
T: 1800 512 348
A dedicated COVID-19 online forum is available for people to
share their concerns and connect online to support one another.
coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au
REACH OUT
Online youth forums and online parents forums for COVID-19
offer peer support in safe and established online communities.
au.reachout.com
MINDSPOT CLINIC
T: 1800 61 44 34
E: contact@mindspot.org.au
mindspot.org.au
HEADSPACE
headspace.org.au
AUSTRALIAN PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
psychology.org.au/FindAPsychologist
In an emergency, dial 000.